Meet the Women at NAOBC – Lydia Ring
On Mondays, we’ll take time to meet the women of NAOBC. Five questions followed by how you can connect with the NAOBC women on social media. Today’s interview is with Lydia Ring.
Q: Tell us about yourself
A: I have been married to Blake for 16 years next month. We have five children: Will (14), Riley (12), Emery (11), and twins Hadley and Ainsley (8). I stayed at home until this past October when I began working at Whitefield Academy in the admissions department. Whitefield is the private Christian school that my children have attended for years. I love being able to see my kids throughout the day and interact with their friends as well.
Q: Tell us about your time at NAOBC
A: My family began attending NAOBC in the fall of 2000 – 20 years ago. The Lord had recently moved my family to Louisville, KY, and after visiting several churches, the Lord made it clear to our entire family that Ninth and O was home. I met my husband at Ninth and O. The pews at our wedding were filled with this church family. My husband and I have had the privilege of serving on the church staff for 15 years. Our children were baptized in the church. Blake and I attend Intermediate Couples 1( IC1) where he serves as one of the teachers. Over the many years, I have served in many areas. Children, college age singles, preschool, women’s ministry, and most consistently, the preschool ministry.
Q: What is a fun fact that most people wouldn’t know about you?
A: I could actually surf when younger. It has been years since I have attempted it, but I was capable of catching a wave and standing up on a surfboard. Anyone that knows me well knows that is a highly athletic move for me.
Q: What woman has made the most impact in your life?
A: Without a doubt, my Mom. To know her is to love her. I grew up watching her prioritize her life so well. She loved Jesus most. Mom would rise early and spend time with the Lord. My Dad was always second. Date night. Favorite meals. Never speaking an ill word about him to others OR at home. She had a complete understanding that his call to ministry was THEIR call to ministry. Her children were next in line. She homeschooled. She sacrificially ensured that our lives were filled with church and friends and activities that filled our love buckets. And somehow, she still managed to love people well. Our home was always filled with young women she was discipling. They would show up and just hang out in the kitchen while she cooked dinner. She led Bible Studies, spoke at conferences, and took late night phone calls. She opened our home over and over to give a sense of home to people not near family. Anything I show understanding or some form of maturity in, can be traced back to her example.
Q: What is something the Lord has taught you in the last year?
A: Like so many people, the Lord has used this past year in my life in so many different ways. I am so grateful for it! One of the things the Lord has really impressed on my heart is my need for the body of Christ. Not just for fellowship, but also for accountability. Accountability can not happen without transparency, though. I have always been on the more guarded side, but I felt the effects of the isolation of COVID in my own life and watched it in so many others. The isolation made it easier for us all to hide our struggles and sin. I have learned to fear the results of keeping my sin hidden more then the embarrassment of sharing my struggles with sisters in Christ and allowing the transparency needed to be held accountable to obedience.
You can follow Lydia on Facebook and on Instagram @lring85.
